"Hindutva is about claiming a Hindu identity for Indiain the same way as many Americans assert that the US is essentially a Christian nation, despite its tolerance and accommodation of other belief systems".

Noted that:

May 18 Foundation is secular organization of survivors of may 18 uprising in Gawangju and selecting every year Gwangju Human Rights Awardee .

PVCHR received one time grant from Mesereor for Raup village in Sonbhadra.

Anupam is not working with PVCHR now.

ACHA is established by secular of South Asia base on peace,non-violence and communal harmony.

Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.

--The Buddha

"We are what we think. With our thoughts we make our world." - Buddha

This message contains information which may be confidential and privileged. Unless you are the addressee or authorised to receive for the addressee, you may not use, copy or disclose to anyone the message or any information contained in the message. If you have received the message in error, please advise the sender by reply e-mail to pvchr.india@gmail.com and delete the message. Thank you.

MAY 25, 2011Missionaries, Pakistanis and Lenin Raghivanshi of PVCHR From: vikramsenkaushik Date: Sat, May 21, 2011 at 9:09 PMSubject: Missionaries, Pakistanis and Lenin Raghivanshi of PVCHRLenin Raghivanshi runs a "human rights" organization "People's Vigilance committee on Human Rights".It must be doing good business. It employs him his wife Shruti Nagvanshi and a relative Anupam Nagavanshi. It employs a number of people. They get a lot of money from organizations like Mesereor (a Catholic missionary organization) and perhaps some real charities among some mysterious donors, some of which must be elaborately set-up fronts.Lenin Raghivanshi has received awards from:• Gwangju Human Rights Award: A Korean missionary group • USA Based Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (ACHA) But wait. The "USA-based" ACHA organization is actually a Pakistani organization. It director is a Pakistani American and President is a Pakistani! Lenin Raghivanshi is on their board.One wonders what kind of compensation such groups provide.Here are the details.****http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/Mobilise+and+empower/0/36130.html?complete=1DIRECTOR: Dr. Lenin Raghuvansi,Varanasi, U.P., IndiaDr. Lenin Raghuvanshi, an Ayurvedic physician by training, for several years has been working for the rights of bonded and child labourers and other marginalized people in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, India. In 1996, he and his wife, Shruti, founded People's Vigilance Committee on Human Right (PVCHR), a community-based organization, to address the injustice of the Indian caste system. He has become the symbol of nonviolent resistance among millions of Dalits fighting for their dignity in India. Already an Ashoka Fellow, his work has been recognized with Gwangju Human Rights Award for 2007 by the May 18 Foundation of South Korea and ACHA Peace Star Award by the U.S.-based Association for Communal Harmony in Asia.******http://www.asiapeace.org/acha/board.htmCURRENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS (2011)DIRECTOR: Omar Ali, MD, Wisconsin, USADr. Ali is a Pakistani-American physician, currently Assistant professor of Pediatric Endocrinology at the Medical College of Wisconsin.He hails from a village near Gujarat city in Pakistani Punjab and graduated from King Edward Medical College in Lahore. He moved to the US in 1986 and later spent 6 years in Saudi Arabia working as a pediatrician.DIRECTOR: Arshed Bhatti, Pakistan (PRESIDENT)Born in a Pakistani Punjab village to a peasant family who had migrated in 1947, from Faridkot in district Ferozpur in Indian Punjab, Arshed Bhatti received his Masters in International Relation at Quaid-i-Azam University and worked for M.Phil in political economy.After employment as a journalist and in the civil service for some time, he got an opportunity, in 1997, to study for a post graduate diploma from Tokyo (IDEAS), in development studies. In 1998, he joined London School of Economic (M.Sc. Development Management). Starting in 2000, he worked with Action Aid Pakistan, British Council Pakistan, and pursued studies for his PhD (civil society in Pakistan); but he gave it up after clearing his comprehensive.Posted by swamijyoti at Wednesday, May 25, 2011

On 16 February, 2011, an incident of communal violence took place at the Sahaspur village in Moradabad district. Following this unfortunate incident,Uttar Pradesh state police, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) committed brutal repression of the persons belonging to the Muslim minority in the village.The human rights activists, associated with Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), Bunkar Dastkar Adhikar Manch, visited the village to collects the facts and to know the circumstances which led to the communal conflict at the occasion of the festival of Barawafat.

CASE DETAILS:

PVCHR is a human rights organization operating from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. It is an organization of good reputation and has several nationally and internationally known human rights activists associated with its daily work. Since inception, PVCHR has been actively engaged in reporting and intervening in human rights cases, particularly concerning the violence committed by the law enforcement agencies in Uttar Pradesh. The PVCHR has reported through its Urgent Appeals Programme many cases of rights violation. Most of these cases have exposed atrocities committed by the Uttar Pradesh state police, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC).

The Sahaspur village under Bilari police station is at a distance of 27 Km from Moradabad city. This village has a total population of almost 15000, population of majority Hindu community is almost 8000 and the population of Muslim community is 7000. Until 16 February, 2011, the Sahaspur village was well known for its religious tolerance and communal harmony. The most popular Hindu festivals, Holi and Dashahara, are celebrated more by the Muslims than that of the Hindus in this village.

It is informed that the last time in 2010 the path which was being traditionally used for the procession at the occasion of Barawafat was found to be damaged condition and at that time it had been suggested by the Hindus themselves to take out the procession through another path. But this time on 16 February, 2011, at the occasion of Barawafat, as the procession advanced on the new path, as had been suggested by the Hindus in 2010, the village head Mr. Kishan Singh Jatav, accompanied by others youth, mostly associated with Hindu Jatava community, refused to let the procession pass through the new path and asked to go back.

Local Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), who was at the spot and escorting the procession, at first tried to talk with the Hindus and convince them to let the procession pass through the new path. But it is alleged that at the same time SDM received a telephone call on his mobile and after that he ordered to get the procession back, as to walk through the traditional path. This gave rise to resentment among Muslims youth and they wanted from the SDM to let the procession pass through the same path. Meantime, allegedly, stone pelting started on the procession from the roofs of the Hindu Jatavas' community. Responding to this sudden attack on the procession, Muslims youth also started stone pelting on the Jatavas. Police resorted to Lathi charge and people began to run away to save themselves and it caused stampede at the spot. A 12 years old Muslim boy named Shahibe Ali son of Mr. Abdul Haque got seriously injured and taken to the hospital but he succumbed to his injuries next day.

It is alleged that soon after the incident the forces of Rapid Action Force and P.A.C. were called on and they exploded tear gas, broke off the doors and entered the houses of Muslims and beat indiscriminately women, children and old aged persons. It is alleged that on the one hand Jatavas were looting but on the other hand police were busy in beating. Mohd Hafiz, a victim of the incident, told that police were beating the women and children and arresting the young and old aged persons.

It is informed that an FIR, against the 27 persons by name and hundreds other unknown persons belonging to Muslim minority, was lodged at the Bilari police station. The whole population of the Muslim communitywas living under extremely frightening situation in the village. Many other have left the village.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

According to the fact finding report submitted by the team of human rights activists, the local administration had already been informed of the possible dispute, regarding the path of the procession of the Barawafat that might take place during the procession. But, as alleged by the rights groups, no precautionary action, on the part of the administration, was taken to avoid the dispute by ensuring safe path to the procession. It is informed that even the local administration had been failed to stop the police atrocities, colluding with the Hindu Jatav's community, on the Muslims of Sahaspur village.

It is noteworthy that hundreds of Muslims have been implicated in serious criminal cases following the incident of communal dispute at Sahaspur village but no person from Hindu majority community has been implicated in a criminal case for inciting communal violence and committing atrocities against the persons and families belonging to Muslim minority. But according to the report of the fact finding team, doors of the Muslim houses were found broken, damaged looms, burning of factory of Muslim weavers and serious injuries to many of them.

Ii is ironic that media have also played very prejudiced role and never seem to be interested in to bring forth the atrocities committed by police on the Muslim community. Till the date local or national media have shown no inclination to study the horror and sufferings through which the Muslim community is going through at the Sahaspur village and to make it public.

Though the Moradabad district is listed as a Minority Concentrated Districts and Prime Minister's 15 point programme for welfare of Minorities is in effect in this district but National Minority Commission has taken no action against the atrocities committed against the Muslim community at Sahaspur village in Moradabad district.

Please write to the persons and institutions listed below to call for to take action against the police and persons involved in inciting communal violence and committing atrocities on the persons and families belonging to Muslim minority at Sahaspur village and set up an inquiry to find the reasons which led to the unfortunate communal violence in the village.

Please be informed that the PVCHR is writing separate letters to the UN Special Rapporteurs on India, torture, and Minority situation, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, calling for immediate interventions into this case.

I find it remarkable that even as the Uttar State Government claims to be a secular government and a protector of Muslim minority, it is committing atrocities on the Muslim minority and implicating them falsely on spurious claims of alleged involvement in communal violence.

According to the information I have received, hundreds of persons belonging to Muslim minority are currently implicated in serious criminal cases. I am informed that the police have no evidence with which to link the victims to the alleged crimes.

I also ask the Uttar Pradesh government to conduct inquiry in this case to investigate the allegations of police atrocities on the Muslim community and to punish the perpetrators. I also ask the state government to pay compensation to all those victims who have suffered serious physical injuries and have suffered loss of their property.

Finally, I take this opportunity to ask the Government of Uttar Pradesh to take into account the report prepared by the PVCHR and Bunkar Dastkar Adhikar Manch(http://muslim-minority.blogspot.com/2011/05/blog-post.html) and to take immediate action so that the truth can be revealed and this type of unfortunate situation of communal violence and police atrocities on the Muslim community could not be repeated.

Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.

--The Buddha

"We are what we think. With our thoughts we make our world." - Buddha

This message contains information which may be confidential and privileged. Unless you are the addressee or authorised to receive for the addressee, you may not use, copy or disclose to anyone the message or any information contained in the message. If you have received the message in error, please advise the sender by reply e-mail to pvchr.india@gmail.com and delete the message. Thank you.

Aligarh: The People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) has urged the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to order a magisterial probe into the custodial death of about 59-year-old Abdul Aziz, a fourth grade employee of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

Abdul Aziz, son of Nasir Ali, a resident of Kishori Bhawan, Anup Shahar Road under the Civil Lines police station in Aligarh district, Uttar Pradesh succumbed to allegedly torture in police custody on 8th May, 2011. Next day on 9th May an F.I.R. was registered by Mr. Jamshed, the son of the deceased victim, against 8 persons, including two police officials associated with the Civil Lines police station under sections 302, 452, 323, 506, 102 B of Indian Penal Code.

Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi, Secretary General, PVCHR has written to NHRC detailing the incident and demanded that “In such an incident of brutal custodial death, I request you to give order to conduct a Magisterial Inquiry by Judicial Magistrate under Section 176 (1) A of Cr.P.C. immediately, compensation of Rupees 5 lakhs to the kin of deceased Abdul Aziz and provide protection to witness.”

According to the description given in the FIR, Dr Raghuvanshi wrote, on 8 May, 2011 at around 10.30 pm, the deceased victim, Mr. Abdul Aziz was picked up forcefully from his house by Mr. Jalil Ahmad, a Sub Inspector and Mr. A. K. Tyagi, a S.S.I., both posted at Civil Lines police station and he was taken to the Civil Lines police station in a police jeep.

“It is informed that when the relatives of the deceased victim went to the Civil Lines police station to know about the deceased, they were told that the deceased victim had been sent to the J. N. Medical College, AMU, Aligarh. When the relatives went to the J. N. Medical College, AMU, which is hardly 2 Km away from the Civil Lines police station, they came to know that Mr. Abdul Aziz had died.” “Further, it is reported that a panel of two doctors conducted Post-Mortem of the deceased victim Mr. Abdul Aziz and it has revealed that Mr. Abdul Aziz death was caused by strangulation,” Dr Raghuvanshi’s letter to NHRC read.

In the above incident of custodial death, the Sub Inspector Mr. Jalil Ahmad has been suspended. But despite named in the FIR, no action has been taken against Mr. A.K. Tyagi, S.S.I. of the Civil Lines police station.

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, is pained to see complaints and media reports alleging large scale violence in village Bhatta and other nearby areas in Greater NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh leading to loss of life and injuries to several persons, including the officers on the state government's duty. In view of the gravity of the situation, the Commission has decided to depute its investigation team for conducting an on the spot inquiry in the matter. In several complaints received in the Commission, it has been alleged that the police mercilessly lathicharged the farmers who were demanding more compensation for their land which is being acquired by the state government. Incidents of stone pelting of government officials by the agitating farmers, and the police personnel tresspassing the villagers' houses, outraging women's dignity and burning of crops were alleged. Allegedly, fire was also exchanged between the police and some agitators.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Mr. Deepak Kumar Superintendent of police, Sonbhadra in letter no. एस टी/शि - 26 ए/11 (DG) on dated 9th May, 2011 directed to prepare the list for the watchfulness of actors of witch hunting such as the ojhas ; Sokha and the other people involved in this type of activity. Meeting held with an effort to create awareness against social evil in presence of the village head, village pachayat member In the affected village.

PVCHR,DAG (Dyanamic Action Group),National Alliance on Testimonial Therapy (NATT), RCT (Rehabilitation and Research Center for Torture Victims) and Detention Watch are going to hold state level consultation on 26th June, 2011 United Nation Day in support of survivor of torture. The main aim behind organizing consultation is to honor survivors of Torture and Organized Violence, highlight their problems and inauguration of the manuals related to the detention, arrest. In the consultation survivors/representative from entire Uttar Pradesh is participating.

Date & Time: 26th June at 11 am

Venue: Ravindralaya Charbagh, Lucknow.

Therefore we are requesting the renowned organization/individual to be partner organization of this state level consultation and share the cases from your concerned working area. Please confirm your esteem presence as early as possible to shabana@pvchr.org so, we may finalize the program schedule and other material of the program.